Stenciling apparatus



June 3, 1941. K, VOLLSTORF 2,244,272

STENCILING APPARATUS Fil ed March so, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 K13. Val ZZaw/ INVENTOR M 9 Q? 1 ATTORNE June 3, 1941. K. B. voLLs'roRFSTENCIL-INC: APPARATUS .2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed March 30, 1940 0 A. z A?e '0 i" d 3 9 I. 2 2 8 Z My a 0 H 3 2 z 1 a 8 3 a Vallalrf INVENTORATTORNEY:

atented June 3, 1941 STENCILING APPARATUS Karl B. Vollstorl', Toledo,Ohio, assignor to Libbey Glasscompany, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationMarch 30, 1940, -Serial No. 326,943

' '2 Claims.

The present invention relates toimprovements in screen type stencilingapparatus by means of which decorative designs or lettering in a ceramicenamel composition are applied to articles of glassware such astumblers, bottles, jars, and the like. More particularly, the inventionis con cerned with the provision of a stencil screen embodying means forsegregating coloring materials deposited thereon whereby in a singleoperation, several colors may be applied simultaneously or in successionto the articles being decorated.

It is an object of the invention to provide novel means whereby separatedesigns of difierent colors may be applied to an article in oneoperation of the apparatus.

Another object is the provision. of means for regulably controlling thepath of travel of the stenciling members as the colors are applied.

A further object is the provision of means whereby a continuous spirallyarranged design may be applied to an article without the usualdifllculties arising from smearing the wet color when the designoverlaps the circumference of the article.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a decorating apparatus of which the presentinvention forms a part.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a tumbler decorated in accordance withmy invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken stantially on line 4-4 of Fig.1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a tumbler decorated in accordance withthe latter form of my invention.

The present invention may be applied to any suitable decorating machineembodying the silk screen method of color application. Such a machine isdisclosed in Patent #2,113,605 to H. R. Schutz, dated April 12, 1938, towhich reference may be had for a detailed description of the apparatusand its operation and to which my invention is applied. Heretofore theapplication of more than a single color to an article required aseparate decorating operation for each color. Under ordinarycircumstances it is necessary that each color "set or dry before thearticle may again be handled for further decorating in order sub.-

rolling contact with the article.

not to smear the coloring material first applied. Accordingly, I haveprovided an especially constructed screen and squeegee mechanismtherefor, the operation of which permits the application of two or moreseparate designs, each of a different color located in-circumferentialalignment around the article. The apparatus further includes means forregulably controlling the path of travel of the squeegee on the screen,such means also being adaptable to transfer a continuous and overlappingspirally arranged design (a oand for example) to an article in a mannerthat precludes the possibility of smearing the wet color.

The decorating machine illustrated herein includes generally a base Ill(Fig. 1) on which a screen carrier H and squeegee mechanism l2 aresupported. The carrier ll comprises a rectangular frame havingtransverse end bars l3 and longitudinal side bars l3". The end bars areprovided with rollers l4 outwardly thereof which run on an arcuatehorizontal track l5 mounted on the base. The inner ends of the bars i3are connected by telescoping rods to a common hinge pin l6'which isadjustable toward and away from the screen carrier, thus permitting thecarrier to swing through the desired arc. The radius of the swingingcarrier is governed by the angularity of the tapering side walls of thearticle.

The squeegee mechanism l 2 is supported on the base l0 and is adapted toproject outwardly and over the path of the carrier. An article holderl'l (Figs. 2' and 4) is positioned beneath the squee- .gee mechanism andis provided with rollers i8 upon which the articles, suchias a tumblerT, are rotatively supported, as will be brought out presently.

The screen carrier I I as adapted to support a screen 20 insuch a mannerthat it may be reciprocated horizontally between the squeegee mechanismand an article in the holder and have In accordance with the presentinvention, the screen 20 is provided withlongitudinal and substantiallyparallel partitions 2| dividing the screen surface into independentdefinitely segregated paths 22 or areas. A pair of designs 23 is cutinto the screen in such a manner thatwhen a coloring material is forcedtherethrough onto an article, the designs created the length of thescreen (Fig. 1). Thus the designs are separated and the individualcolors are retained by the partitions 2| A squeege 25 formed of suitablematerial is adapted for wiping engagement with the screen in both of thepaths or areas simultaneously. A notch 26 formed in the lower edge ofthe squeegee provides an opening for straddling the center partition 2|.The squeegee 2B is maintained vertically over the center of the articleby means of a holder 21 to which it is attached. The holder comprises ahorizontally disposed bar 28 (Figs. 1 and 4) having upstanding guides 29formed thereon. The guides 29 slidably support the holder on parallelrods 30 carried by a sq "egee supporting arm 8|. The arm is pivo forvertical swinging movement on a pin 32 which is carried by a stationarybracket 33 bolted to the base ID. A bar 34 which is bolted to the armll, projects outwardly beyond the end of the latter and is adapted tomaintain the squeegee holder in a substantially horizontal plane bymeans of an adjustable set screw 35 which is carried by said bar andbears against the track I.

The holder 21 is normally forced in an outwarddirection by a coil spring31 supp ited on a rod 3! carried by the arm 3| between the rods 30 andprojecting through an ear 3! formed on the bar 2|. The movement of theholder under spring pressure is controlled by a cam 40 which isadjustably secured to the inner longitudinal bar l3 of the screencarrier and a cam roller ll mounted on the bar 28. The shape of the cam40 is such that as the screen is moved from one side to the other duringthe decorating operation, the squeegee moves in and out transversely ofthe screen, thus following the paths defined by the partitions 2|.

' tached to the carrier frame II and move therewith. The screen frame isprovided with a pair of parallel partitioning bars 46 spaced apart toform a relatively narrow channel 41 therebetween. The bars are disposedwithin the frame at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof, thedesign ll as indicated being in the form of a continuous straight line.The area of the screen normally contacted by the tumbler or otherarticle during the decorating operation, is indicated by broken lines I.By using partitioning bars, the surface contact of screen and tumbler ismaterially reduced, thereby permitting an overlapping of the designwithout smearing the portion previously applied.

A squeegee I for operating within the channel 41 may be supported in aholder Ii similar to the holder 21 previously described. A cam H forguiding the squeegee along the channel may be secured to the carrier IIto engage a cam roller 53 on the squeegee holder. Operation of of themechanism is identical with the preferred form previously described.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A stenciling apparatus of the character described comprising astencil screen adapted for horizontal oscillation about a pivot,partition members arranged within said screen to form substantiallyparallel zigzag channels along the upper surface thereof, a holdermounted beneath the screen and adapted to support an article in rollingcontact therewith, a squeegee, a support for said squeegee movabletransversely of said channels, a roller carried by said support, and acam carried by the screen for engaging said roller whereby said squeegeeis guided along the channels during oscillation of the screen.

2. Stenciling apparatus comprising an open elongated substantiallyrectangular frame, a normally imperforate flexible sheet attached to theframe and spanning the opening, said sheet having a perforate areaextending generally diagonally of the screen, a squeegee arranged forwiping engagement with one face of the screen, said screen and squeegeebeing movable relatively in the plane of the sheet, a holder for thesqueegee and cam means cooperating withthe holder for guiding thesqueegee along said perforate area.

KARL B. VOLLSTORF.

